T
he Air Force’s first dedicated combat search and rescue exercise providing realistic task force training concludes today at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. Exercise Angel Thunder was first held in 2006, but only as a base level exercise at Davis-Monthan. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley directed Air Combat Command to develop a command-wide exercise for CSAR resources, which reverted to ACC control last year. ACC like what it saw at Davis-Monthan, so took over sponsorship for this year’s event. Keeping it at the Arizona facility made sense, since Davis-Monthan has the right elements—pararescue airmen and equipment and a unique desert environment, plus an urban training complex called Desert Lightning City. A1C Melissa Copeland reports that Angel Thunder tests the theater spin-up capabilities of participating personnel and examines how Air Force assets are integrated for mission planning and execution.
While the Space Force is still making long-term plans to establish high-fidelity live and virtual test and training ranges in the coming years, officials say they're also working with operators to identify near-term gaps and quickly field capabilities to address them.
